Sen. Jones sponsoring internet privacy bills

LANSING, Mich. —Sen. Rick Jones is working on legislation to protect the privacy of Michigan residents using the internet.

“In today’s digital economy, consumer information can be valuable and — if in the wrong hands — can be dangerous,” said Jones, R-Grand Ledge. “In the marketplace of information, each Michigan resident deserves the ability to have a say about what kind of data about them is being collected and sold. That is what my bills will do.”

The federal government recently repealed internet privacy rules that would have required internet service providers to get consent from their customers before using or selling their sensitive data for targeted advertisements. Data protected by the rules would have included web browsing history, app usage history, geolocation and financial and medical information.

“In my opinion, the federal government really dropped the ball in the protection of citizens using the internet,” Jones said. “My bills would ensure that Michigan residents have the ability to browse the web without billion-dollar corporations looking over their shoulder.”

Jones’ bills would prevent internet service providers from selling a consumer’s private information without permission and also extend those requirements to internet search engines, like Google and Facebook.